Independent candidate Michael Lyon looks to have secured enough votes to be elected Mayor, with 3,372 votes, or 23.11 per cent of the total votes counted on Tuesday.
The Greens vote has diminished over 30 per cent from the previous election, while the Labor vote has also seen a decline.
While ivotes and pre-polling votes are still to be tallied, and preferences distributed in the coming days, Cr Lyon’s lead should be enough to secure the top spot.
Cr Lyon served the previous Council term, and was originally elected on the Greens ticket before quitting the party to become Independent in the last term.
He was voted interim mayor after the resignation of the previous Greens mayor, Simon Richardson earlier this year.
So far, Independent candidate, Mark Swivel, is second in the mayoral race, with 18.42 per cent of the vote counted on Monday (2,688 votes). Greens candidate Duncan Dey is at 14.88 per cent, followed by Independent councillor, Cate Coorey at 14.47 per cent. Labor’s Asren Pugh gained 11.79 per cent of the vote (1,721 votes).
Conservative Independent Councillor, Alan Hunter, secured seven per cent, while independent candidate, Bruce Clarke, secured 5.54 per cent as of Tuesday. At the tail end, John Anderson received 3.40 per cent of the vote (496 votes) and Chris McIlrath 1.38 per cent of the vote (202 votes).
It is likely that the new Council (eight seats plus the mayor), will include Cr Lyon and perhaps two from his ticket; former councillor Duncan Dey, and current Cr Sarah Ndjaye (both Greens); Mark Swivel; Cr Cate Coorey, and Labor’s Asren Pugh.
It’s unclear whether Cr Alan Hunter and Bruce Clarke will be elected to Council.
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